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Anti-government protest in Tehran
Photo: AFP

Iran: Clashes during protestor's funeral

Government supporters back lawmakers' call to execute opposition leaders. Mehdi Karroubi says 'willing to pay any price' for trying to bring democratic change to country

A "small number" of opposition activists clashed with government supporters in Tehran during the funeral of Sana Jaleh, one of the two protestors killed Monday in anti-government rallies, state television reported Wednesday.

 

The protestors were carrying pictures of Israeli President Shimon Peres, US President Barack Obama and Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

 

According to the report, the regime supporters drove the opposition protestors away while cursing them. There were no reports of injuries.

 

The Iranian authorities claim that Jaleh was a regime supporter killed by the protestors, while the opposition says he was a protestor shot by the security forces.


 

Sana Jaleh (first on left). Struggle's new symbol?

 

State television reported that many regime supporters arrived at the ceremony and began chanting slogans against the opposition leader, including "Death to Mousavi, death to Karroubi" and "Death to Israel". They carried signs calling for the opposition leaders' death.

 

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday night that the "enemies" orchestrating the opposition protests have failed in reaching their goals. "It's clear that the Iranian nation has enemies as it is a country wishing to shine in the sky and change the relationships in the world," he stated.

 

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Tuesday accused the United States and Israel of encouraging the opposition protestors to take to the streets.

  

Hardline lawmakers called for the "execution" of those taking part in the anti-government protests, mentioning the names of opposition leaders Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi.

 

Karroubi said Wednesday morning in a message on his website that he was "willing to pay any price" for trying to bring democratic change to the country.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.16.11, 09:30
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